Urban Neighborhood Initiative

5E Gallery: An outlet for the Detroit art and music communities whose mission is to increase public awareness of the visual arts, music and community through exhibitions and educational programs. 5egallery.org

American Indian Health and Family Services: A1HFS is a non-profit health center serving the Native American community of Southeastern Michigan. Their mission is to help ensure the survival of Native American families and individuals. www.aihfs.org

Catholic Worker Dayhouse: Community devoted to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer and hospitality for the homeless, exiled, hungry and forsaken. www.davhouse.org

Centro Obrero: Detroit Latino Workers Center: A center for workers, by workers – grassroots initiative to empower workers and communities to confront their adverse conditions. www.criticalmoment.org/issue20/labumbard

Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality: This coalition seeks to mobilize a powerful, visible local, national and international protest against brutality and institutional violence. They aim to unite and support those most directly affected by police brutality and to involve other sectors of society in that fight. www.detroitcoalition.org/about

Detroit Black Community Food Security Network & D-Town Farms: Nonprofit, grassroots, community organization whose aim is to change our thinking about food, where it comes from, and who controls it. D-Town Farms is a 2 acre model urban farm in Northwestern Detroit. detroitblackfoodsecurity.org

The Hub/Back Alley Bikes

Detroit Evolution: Vegan and Raw Food Classes, Healthy Local/Organic Catering, Yoga, Bodywork, Nutritional Counseling and Sustainable Lifestyle Training. A community-focused, healthy and incredibly tasty alternative for the people of Detroit. detroitevolution.com

Detroit Sierra Club: Environmental group whose purpose is to explore, protect and educate people about the natural world. michigan.sierraclub.org/index.html

Detroit Summer: A multi-racial, multi-generational collective working to transform themselves and their communities as they face problems with creativity and critical thinking, www.detroitsummer.org

Detroit Women of Color International Film Festival: They produce the annual Detroit Women of Color International Film Festival and facilitate programs to empower, educate, and entertain, www.dwcfilmfest.com

Digital Justice Coalition: DJC is comprised of people and organizations in Detroit who believe that communication is a fundamental human right. They are securing that right through activities that are grounded in the digital justice principles of: access, participation, common ownership, and healthy communities. alliedmediaconference.org/digital_justice

East Michigan Environmental Action Council (EMEAC): “…to protect and restore land, air, water, and diversity of life through Informed personal and public action. www.emeac.org

MECAWI

Freedom House: Freedom House is a temporary home for survivors of persecution from around the world seeking legal asylum in the U.S. & Canada. www.freedomhousedetroit.org/about-us.php

Friends of the Detroit River: This group envisions an ever improving quality of life for people, plants and animals in southeast Michigan and southwest Ontario through development of a balance of grass roots advocacy and staffed programs f that watches and protects the Detroit River. www.detroitriver.org

Growing Hope: Helping people improve their lives and communities through gardening and healthy food access. Growing Hope fosters learning, improves nutrition, encourages self-reliance, and promotes positive community futures. www.growinghope.net

Hannan House: Enhancing the quality of life for senior citizens in Metropolitan . Detroit by identifying their unmet physical, social and financial needs, maintaining facilities and creating programs that both address these needs and preserve the dignity of seniors. www.hannan.org

Hope Clinic: Hope Clinic provides compassionate and practical help to those in need. They offer medical care and dental care to the uninsured, plus a variety of social services to minister to the whole person. www.thehopeclinic.org

United Peace Relief

The Hub: A full-service bicycle shop servicing the Cass Corridor and greater Detroit. All profits from the shop support youth and educational programming provided by The Hub non-profit in the form of Back Alley Hikes programming, and outreach youth and educational partnerships in the community. thehubofdetroit.org

The Hush House: The Hush House offers leadership training, programs for homeless and low income families, space for community meetings and operates a community black world history museum. thehushhouse.org/id9.html

Jobs with Justice: JWJ engages workers and allies in campaigns to win justice in workplaces and in communities where working families live. www.semiwi.org

Matrix Theatre Company: New art and culture is created everyday..with people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. On the front lines of cultural change for years, Matrix changes lives and communities. http://www.matrixtheatre.org

Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice (MECAWI): A multinational, multi-racial coalition of Detroit area activists opposed to the US wars at home and abroad, racism, sexism, anti-LBGT bigotry and other forms of injustice. www.mecawi.org

Michigan Welfare Rights Organization: Union for low income people. Open to all. www.mwro.org

Matrix Theatre Company

Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions & Utility Shutoffs: A coalition of grassroots activists and organizations, union and religious leaders, farmers, politicians, and concerned citizens from across Michigan that formed in 2008 to fight for the passage of a Senate Bill to stop all mortgage foreclosures and evictions for two years. www.moratorium-mi.org

Open Technology Initiative: OTI is committed to maximizing the potential of innovative, open technologies through studying their social and economic impacts -particularly for poor, rural, and other underserved constituencies. opentechinstitute.org

Palestine Cultural Office: A non-profit organization that provides support for and promotes greater awareness and understanding of issues concerning Palestinian people and culture. palestineculturaloffice.org

Pan African News Wire: The Pan-African News Wire is an international electronic press service designed to foster intelligent discussion on the affairs of African people throughout the continent and the world. panafricannews.blogspot.com

Real Media: A multi-media program that takes place in Southwest Detroit at various schools. www.youthfriendlysw.org

Rosa Parks Children/Youth Program: Located at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen on Detroit’s east side. Alterschool program offering art therapy, tutoring, teen support groups, Women’s Justice Circle, Peace Camp and Garden Club. www.cskdetroit.org/docs/newsletter.pdf

Ruth Ellis Center: Ruth Ellis Center is the only mission specific agency in the entire Midwest dedicated to LGBTQ, (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-attractional, Transgender and Questioning) youth. The Center provides residential and drop-in programs. www.ruthelliscenter.com/index.htm

Ruth Ellis Center and Detroit Summer

Trumbullplex: Radical housing collective and showspace founded in 1993 located at 4210 Trumbull Ave. Mission to create a positive environment for revolutionary change in which economic and social relationships are based on mutual aid and the absence of hierarchy. www.myspace.com/trumbullplex

United Peace Relief Detroit: Mobile emergency disaster relief in Detroit. www.myspace.com/uprdetroit

Urban Neighborhoods Initiative: Serves low income urban communities through both human and community development. www.unidetroit.org/indcx.php

Urban Network: A community space, where community members can participate in workshops, book discussions, movie screenings, and much more. The shop is entirely committed to putting the neighbor back into the ‘hood’. www.yusefshakur.org/urban-network

PLACES OF WORSHP
Central United Methodist: 23 East Adams, www.centralumchurch.com
King Solomon Baptist Church: 4638 4th St
Spirit of Hope Church: 1519 MLK, Jr. Dr. www.spiritofhopedetroit.org
Stillpoint Zen Temple: 4347 Trumbull Ave. www.stillpointzenbuddhisttemple.org
St. Peter’s Episcopal church: 1950 trumbull, Detroit stpeterscorktown.edomi.org
Greater Mt. Tabor Baptist Church: 7345 W Chicago, Detroit
The Muslim Center: 1605 West Davison, www.masjids.org/themuslimcenter
Isaac Agre Downtown Synagogue: 1457 Griswold. downtownsynagogue.org

Celebrate freedom from the French in Southwest Detroit with our annual Cinco de Mayo Ride, which happens to be a little early this year! This year’s ride will be even more unique as Detroit Bikes!, which was recently awarded an HEP mini-gr! ant, will donate bike helmets to the Clark Park Coalition and throw an after party.

Take in the historic sites as we ride through the neighborhoods, parks, greenways, and business districts that make up Mexicantown and Southwest Detroit. Highlights are fabulous views of the Detroit Skyline, the Riverfront, Fort Wayne, the Ambassador Bridge, St. Anne’s Church, and several beautiful neighborhoods. We end at Clark Park for an after party.

*
preview of our proposed 10.5 mile route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3617358
*
Bike, bike helmet and signed liability waiver (at event location) are required! Personal money for event activities (i.e. any additional food or beverage stops) and bike lock suggested, but not mandatory.

What better way to celebrate than to donate bike helmets to the Clark Park Coalition. If you like fresh tortillas, fresh chips and salsa, the bustling streets of Vernor or Bagley, and an afternoon of cycling and modest celebration, then join us at Clark Park for all of the festivities. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at this event.

Get all the details: http://www.detroitsynergy.org/projects/detroitbikes

he start of the ride will be at 9 mile & Woodward in Ferndale. Park in the lots on the southeast corner this is where we will gather. This group will head downtown to the first meeting spot where we will meet anyone wanting to do just the downtown loop. We will meet at Honest Johns Bar on 488 Selden. We will stop here , have a beer and continue the Hump. The following is the stops in order.

Downtown Loop
1. Honest Johns…beer & bathroom
2. Urban barnyard…feed the animals
3. Mexican Bakery……snacks
4. Nemo’s Bar……beer & bathrooms
5. Riverwalk…..pictures
6. Tri-Centinnial Park….bathrooms
7. Atwater Brewrey……beer & bathroom (if open)
8. Hiedelburgh Project…….pictures
9. Eastern Mkt…..BBQ, Beer & bathrooms
10. Forhans……beer & bathroom
11. Motor City Brewrey…beer & bathroom (This will be the final stop for all who met us at Honest Johns. Honest Johns is 3 blocks from this location)

Full route continues on to…
12. Hamtramck Disneyland
13. Paychecks Bar……beer & bathroom
14. Dakota Rathskeller…beer & bathroom (if time allows)
15. Dutch Girl Donuts…..for their awesomeness!!!
16. Woodward Ave Brewry….beer & bathrooms…this is the end of the ride.

Helmets are encouraged. but not mandatory(helmets are cheaper than new heads). We will try to obey all traffic laws to ensure the saftey of the group.

Please remember that this is a self sufficient ride so that means to make sure you have water, tubes, cell phone and money to do the portion of the ride you are doing. Wtih all the stops in the downtown area the 20 miles should be pretty easy to do.

At the stops we will stay for as long as time allows. Bars around 30 minutes or so. The stop at Eastern Mkt where we will eat, it ‘ll be around an hour. Also bring a locking device if you want but there will be a 20ft cable and lock to secure all the bikes in some fashion.

The main reason for this ride is to see the D on a bike and have a blast! If you’re doing the downtown loop look at getting back to your starting point around 5ish. If your doing the whole route then we will be getting back to the start around 8ish.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/mi/ferndale/190127247387424829

April 25, 2010 will be the 30th Anniversary of the Biggest, Oldest, and the Best Antique and Classic Bicycle Show in the Nation.
 
          This annual one day event held at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor/Saline Rd. Ann Arbor , Michigan 48103 will host over 220 dealers from across the continent. At last year’s show the weather was absolutely wonderful. There were over 7,000 bicycles and minibikes at the show.
 
 $3 admission (kids under 10 free),  Free Parking,  8:00am-3:00pm
  Frank Mathison (810-599-1399) fmathison@comast. net will be hosting the:
 
“ The Old School Mini Bike Show and Swap Meet”
 
This show will feature vintage gas powered Classic minibikes and Scooters in their own building. Talk about a blast from the past!
 
The $3 cost for the public to get into the Show includes a free door prize ticket. Prizes will be given away each ½ hour. This year a minimum of 4 new collector bikes will be given away to some lucky winners. You must be present to win. Extra tickets available.
 
 Our website is www.ann-arbor-bicycleshow.com
 www.oldschoolminibike.com
 Paul and Anne Kleppert  Bikeshow@aol. com   248-642-6639
 

On Saturday, March 20, Detroit Bikes! will host the Third Annual Spring Training ride. Given that the Detroit Tigers will soon begin their season, the Red Wings hopefully will begin hockey’s second season (playoffs), a sports theme ride is a no-brainer (no jokes, please). The Detroit Bikes! Spring Training Ride will cruise past current and past Detroit sports venues, including Tiger Stadium, Olympia Stadium, Recreation Park, and others. Wear something that represents your favorite Detroit team (professional, college, high school, etc.), such as a T-shirt, bandanna, whatever, and help us challenge Mother Nature to bring the warm weather on!

Cost: FREE!

Ride Starts: 10 AM sharp at the Millennium Bell, Grand Circus Park, downtown Detroit. Please arrive 10 minutes ahead.
Distance of ride: approximately 16 miles
Length: approximately three hours
Pace: Relaxed but steady pace
Needs: We need a rider to take photographs of our event! I’ll bring the digital camera. Also, we always need ride helpers to make sure no one gets left behind, assist with minor repairs, etc.
Additional: Helmets are required!

Dress: Show your Detroit sports pride by wearing your favorite Detroit team’s T-shirt, hat, bandanna, flag, socks, wristbands, whatever!

Route: Depending upon weather and road conditions, the exact route may be modified. From Grand Circus Park, the Spring Training Ride (STR) will skirt Comerica Park and Ford Field. The STR will head east on E. Lafayette to Helen Street, the former site of the Detroit Tigers’ ancestral home, Boulevard Park. The STR will then head west on the Riverwalk, stopping at Rivard Plaza and the Wheelhouse bicycle shop, continuing to Cobo Arena and the Joe Louis Arena! From the Joe, the riders will make a pilgrimage to the site of the Olympia Stadium on McGraw at Grand River. The STR will then wheel past the old Tiger Stadium site before stopping for food and beverages at an original sports bar and grill, Hoots on the Avenue at Michigan and Trumbull. The gracious owner, Kimberly DeRidder, has offered to open early just for us!! (www.HootsontheAve.com). The STR will then bike past the impressive athletic complex at Wayne State University, continuing to the Detroit Medical Center. We’ll pay a brief visit to the former Recreation Park, the long-forgotten home of the world champion Detroit Wolverines baseball team! The STR will then head back to Grand Circus Park.

Wheatpaste>

The Hentchmen and Wheatpaste provide a night of musical entertainment for the benefit of the HUB of Detroit!
Doors at 9pm
Regretfully this show is for people 21 years old and older only.
$5 gets you in with part of the door and bar take going to the HUB of Detroit to fund our services for the community.

Also, there will be HUB t-shirts for sale along with other merchandise needs that you all have. And if you are feeling lucky, buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a three speed cruiser built for your riding pleasure by the HUB of Detroit!

The Park Bar, 2040 Park Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

Wheatpaste

Photo by Trevor Long

Come to the Cass Cafe on Sunday, January 17th for a night of Music and Bike Sprints with friends from The Hub of Detroit and meet some new friends starting a bike co-op in Lansing as we kick off 2010 with a bang!
Prizes for fast sprinters provided by The Hub of Detroit bike shop!

Musical performances by:
Wheatpaste
and
Jericho Offriguez
Sprinting will start after the first band, race early and race often!

You will be surrounded by the art exhibit “Andy-licious Matthew Sandwich” featuring Matthew Lewis, Andrew Krieger and Matthew Hanna which you can savor at you leisure.

The Hub of Detroit is a full-service non profit bicycle shop servicing the Cass Corridor and greater Detroit. It fills a void in Detroit’s bicycle community by providing sale of bicycles, accessories and parts, and bicycle repairs.

All profits from The Hub of Detroit bike shop support youth and educational programming and outreach youth and educational partnerships in the community. The Hub also provides mechanical support staff for area bicycling events and educates those who want to learn how to repair their own bicycles.

The Hub of Detroit is located at 3611 Cass Ave in Detroit and can be contacted at (313) 879-5073 or visit http://thehubofdetroit.org.

The Cass Cafe is located at 4620 Cass Avenue in Detroit the telephone number is (313) 831-1400 or visit http://casscafe.com

Saturday, November 14, 2009, 9 AM

Java Junket 2008

The Java Junket Bicycle Ride is back for the third year. The basic theme of the ride is to ride to and patronize a handful of our cool cafes! All serve coffee (of course), but solid food as well!

Our scheduled stops include the old, reliable, Cafe 1923 in Hamtramck, Cafe con Leche in its new location in Mexicantown, the 1515 Broadway Cafe, Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes in the Park Shelton, and the Biggby Cafe adjacent to Wayne State. For the first time, we will start the ride at Biggbys.

Here are the particulars of the ride. The Java Junket III Bicycle Ride is sponsored by Detroit Bikes!, a project of Detroit Synergy (detroitsynergy. org)

The Date is Saturday, November 14, 2009. The starting Location is Biggby Cafe, 4501 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Wayne State University area. free parking is available on the street and in the parking lot to the rear of Biggbys.

Java Junket rolls out

Starting Time is 0900 hours (9 AM) Sharp! Ending Time is Approximately 1300 hours (1 PM). The Length of the ride is approximately 18 leisurely miles (about 29 kilometers). The pace is a relaxed touring pace that is suitable for all. The Java Junket is free but bring cash for refreshments at our stops.

There is no rain date. The ride will go on regardless of rain, snow, gremlins, locust infestations, or earthquakes. No reservations are needed. Just be there, although an e-mail would be appreciated. For Further Information contact Tom Page, at pagete@gmail. com or 313-473-7118.

As always, we can always use help in taking care of the following tasks: obtaining waiver signatures at the start; emergency bike repairs, primarily fixing flats; tour group integrity, such as sweeps; SAG support; photographing the event.

The City of Detroit is again asking its’ citizens to patrol the streets of the City for Angels Night. Detroit Blading Company and friends has volunteered to be part of this effort.

Walter Johnson will lead the Angels’ Night In-line Skate Patrol on Friday, October 30 from the Butzel Family Center located at 7737 Kercheval. The phone number there is 224.2989. We will meet at 6:00 p.m. The patrol will leave at 6:30 p.m.

Detroit’s’ biking community is invited to join in as well. The patrol is designed to be part of the “eyes and ears” of the City during the Angels’ Night Volunteer Campaign. We will report any suspicious activity to the base station for appropriate action.

This skate is for anyone who can brake and is comfortable skating with light traffic. Helmets, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads are not required but are highly recommended.

It’s not everyday you see a car parked in the new Dequindre Cut.

But it was legit.

There were three artists adding graffiti. By the end of the day, their work was complete.

Model D has an article discussing this trail enhancement project.

Acting as project curators, CAID director Aaron Timlin and curator of graffiti art Tom Stoye selected four artists to create original murals along the Cut. Three writers — MALT, PHERS and TEAD — have completed murals on one wall near the Gratiot portion of the Cut, with an additional piece by GAME to be created in the same area this coming weekend.

According to the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, other non-commissioned grafitti continues to be added in other parts of the Cut.

We should also note that the sidewalk improvements from the Dequindre Cut to Eastern Market along Gratiot Avenue appear to be nearly complete. This is a major improvement.

article by Todd Scott